Ratchet wrench



SWL 25 i956 L, V. THOMPSON RATCHET WRENCH Filed Feb. "l', 1955 I N VENTOR L l/ /'fOMPsa/v ATTORNEYS United States PatentA RATCHET WRENCHLeslie V. Thompson, Fullerton, Calif.

Application February 7, 1955, Serial No. 486,509

l 7 Claims. (Cl. 81-57) This invention relates to hand tools, and morespecifically, to a manually or mechanically operated ratchet wrench.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide a manually ormechanically driven worm wrench, the handle of which may be adapted tolit all standard impact wrench drives and manual drives.

. A further object of this invention is to provide a worm driven wrenchwhich will accommodate all standard types of wrench shafts and sockets.

Another object of this invention is to provide a worm driven wrench withinterchangeable means for effecting different driving ratios.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a wrench of thetype described wherein the device is provided with an inset toaccommodate the heads of bolts and other similar objects of all sizesand shapes, as, for example, a square inset, live-point, six-point,twelvepoint, or any other wrench device which may be necessary orconvenient for any particular or specialized job.

Other and further objects and advantages of the instant invention willbecome more evident from a consideration of the following specificationwhen read in conjunction with the annexed drawings, wherein:

Figure l is an exploded view of a ratchet wrench `constructed inaccordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a medial, cross-sectional view of the wrench illustrated inFigure l, partly in elevation.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the vertical plane of line3--3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is an enlarged "fragmentary detail tional view illustratingthe" ratchet means.

Figure S'is a partial end elevation of the ratchet wrench;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the wrench shaft.

Reference numeral 10 designates, in general, a worm driven ratchetwrench constructed in accordance with the teachings of the presentinvention.

The wrench 10 is seen to comprise a substantially annular housing 12having an enlarged, substantially hollow, elongated and tubular boss 14integrally formed therewith and projecting laterally away therefrom. Oneside of the housing 12 is provided with a circular closure plate 16which is constructed with a substantially centrally positioned aperture18 extending transversely therethrough. The closure plate 16 ispreferably formed integrally with the housing 12.

The hollow boss 14 is constructed with a pair of opposed, aligned,circular passages 20, 22 disposed at opposite ends thereof. An elongatedsubstantially cylindrical worm gear shaft 24, externally threaded at 26along an interemdiate portion of its length is rotatably journalled inthe passages 20 and 22. One end of the shaft 24 is provided with anintegrally formed radially extending ange 28 which terminates in anenlarged head 30 having a tool receiving recess 32 formed therein andextending axially inwardly from the outer end thereof. The flange 28bears against the adjacent end of the boss Vof the boss 14 to preventlongitudinal movement of shaft therein in the other direction. The clip36 also functions as means releasably securing the shaft 24 in the boss14.

An annular worm gear member 38 having externally positioned concave wormthreads 40 extending circumferentially thereof is disposed within thehousing 12 with a side thereof engaging in juxtaposition the closureplate 16. i A cylindrical element 42 having a pair of reduced endsforming shoulders 44, 46 and an integrally formed substantiallycentrally positioned square wrench shaft 48 is disposed within the wormwheel 38 with the shoulder 46 engaging within the aperture 18.

The element 42 has a centrally positioned substantially U-shapedradially extending recess 50 formed therein which intersects an axialpassage 52. The recess 50 communicates at its outer end with acircumferential cut olf 54 having a pair of arcuately shaped basesurfaces 56, 58 constructed on centers so that at the point of theirintersection 60 the radial distance between this point and theinnersurface of the member 38 is greater than the radial` distance betweenthe inner surface of the member 38 and any other point on either of thebase surfaces 56, 58.

An elongated substantially rectangular lever 61 having an ogiveprojection 62 at one of its ends and its other end bifurcated to providearms 64, 66 is disposed within the recess 50 with the projection 62engaging an inverted substantially U-shaped spring elements 58 with thearms of the latter resting on the base 50A of the recess. The lever 61is slotted at 70 to receive a key 72. As is seen in the drawings, thekey 72 is positioned in the passage 52 and comprises a cylindrical shaft74 having an end portion 76 which is substantially rectangular intransverse cross-section and an enlarged knurled head 78 at its otherend. The rectangular portion 76 is received within the slot 70 and has anotch 77 formed therein to receive the lower edge of the slot. t

An elongated cylindrical clutch pin 80 having an vintermediate portion80A is disposed within the cut out '54 with the reduced portion thereofextending transversely ofthe recess 50 and engaged between the arms 64and 66.

A side plate 82 having an aperture 84 is mounted on the shoulder `44,and the entire assembly is held in operative position bythe resilientsplit ring 88 mountedn the circumferential groove 90 formed in thehousing 12. '1

ln operation, and withthe lever 61 in the position shown in Figure 2,one end of a wrench handle or driving means (not shown) is inserted inrecess 32 and the extension 48.is`then inserted in the socket of thebolt or shaft (not shown) or other device which is to be operated upon.Rotation of the head 30 in the direction of the arrow will cause themember 38 to turn in a counterclockwise direction. This motion iseffected by the locking action taken between the annular element and thecylindrical member 42 through the pin 810. However, upon rotation of thehead 30 in the opposite direction the annular member 38 escapes past thepin 80 and the locking relation between the annular member and thecylinJ drical member is no longer present.

When the lever 61 is turned to position the pin 80 cen trally of therecess 50 no locking action takes place and the annular member 38 isfree to rotate in either direction relative to the cylindrical member42.

When the lever is moved to the right of center with respect to Figure 2,shaft 48 will be driven in the opposite direction when the head 30 isrotated in a. direction opposite the arrow.

l-In .this Aembodiment of the invention, the gear ratio may be changedas desired and a socket wrench 42' may be substituted for the wrenchshaft 42. In this case, the shaft 48 is cylindrical and :has a hexagonalrecess 92 formed therein. .In all other respects the two are identical.f

If desired, the wrench may be made as a direct-drive non-ratchet Wrenchby omitting the ratchet elements vand making the member 42 integral withthe annular member 38.

Having vdescribed and illustrated one embodiment of this invention indetail, it will be understood that the same is offered merely by way ofexample, and that the invention is to be :limited only bythe scope oftheappended claims.

What is .claimed is':

1. A ratchet wrench comprising a housing, an annular worm gear disposedin said housing, Vsaid worm gear having exteriorly formed vconvexthreads, a worm shaft mounted :in said .housing and meshing with saidgear, a cylindrical member having an axial extension of reducedtransverse cross-sectional area extending from one end thereof, saidcylindrical member having a cut out in the side thereof, and meansdisposed within said cut out for locking said cylindrical member to turnwith the rotation of said annular worm gear in one direction.

2. A ratchet wrench as defined in claim 1, said `means permitting said`annular worm gear to rotate freely about said cylindrical member whensaid annular worm gear lis turned in the opposite direction.

3. .A ratchet Wrench comprising a substantially hollow cylindricalhousing having a susbtantially hollow boss extending from the `sidethereof, a worm shaft journalled for rotation within said boss, anannular worm gear having concave worin teeth being disposed Within saidhousing and meshing with said worm shaft, a .cylindrical member disposed-within said annular worm gear, said cylindrical member having a wrenchLshaft projecting from a end thereof, said wrench shaft having asubstantially square cross-sectional configuration, said cylindricalmember having a recess formed therein extending transversely thereof,said cylindrical .member having a cut out formed in its side, saidcutout extending transversely of said recess and substantially parallelto the longitudinal axis of said cylindrical member, an linverted.substantially U-shaped resilient member disposed within said recesswith the arms of said resilient member engaging the base of said recess,said cylindrical member having an axial passage extending Ainwardly fromthe other end thereof and intersecting said recess, a .lever disposedwithin said recess, said lever .having an vogive end engaging againstsaid resilient member, said .lever having a bifurcated end oppositelydisposed with .respect to said one end, an elongated cylindrical pinhaving a central 'portion of .reduced diameter, said pin beingpositioned within said cut out por'tion with the reduced portion thereofengaged on opposite sides by the bifurcations, said lever having anelongated substantially rectangular slot formed therein adjacent saidogive end, a key disposed within said passage, said key having asubstantially rectangular end adapted to be received within said slot,and the other end of said key having an enlarged head.

4. A ratchet wrench as defined in claim 3, and said extension having apolygonal socket extending inwardly from the outer end thereof.

5. A ratchet wrench as dened in claim 3, said housing having a closureplate iixedly secured thereto adjacent one of its ends, asecon'd closureplate for the oppositely disposed end, said closure plates beingdisposed on opposite sides of said annular worm gear, a circumferentialgroove formed .in .said housing adjacent .sa-id second closure plate,and resilient clip means disposed within said groove to detachablysecure'togetherthe elements of said wrench.

6. A ratchet Wrench as dened in claim 3, said cut out out portion havingthe base thereof arcuately shaped and struck :from a pair of spacedcenters, said arcuate base intersecting `on a line .substantiallyparallel to the longitudinal axis of said cylindrical member at a pointintermediate .the ends of .said cut out portion.

A7. A ratchet wrench comprising a substantially hollow cylindricalhousing having a worm shaft journalled for rotation therein, a 'wormgear Vdisposed within said housing andmeshing with said wormis'haft, a`cylindrical member disposed withinsaid worm gear, `said cylindricalmember having work engaging means integral therewith, said cylindrical.member having va recess :formed therein extending .transverselythereof, said cylindrical member having a cut out formed in its side,said cut out extending transversely -of said recess and .substantiallyparallel to the longitudinal .axis of lsaid cylindrical member, saidcylindrical .mem-ber .having an axial passage extending inwardly fromythe other end thereof and intersecting said recess, a lever disposedwithin said recess, said lever having 'a bifurcated end, :an elongated.cylindrical pin having a central portion of reduced diameter, said pinbeing positioned within said out out portion with the reduced portionthereof engaged on opposite sides by the bifurcations, said .leverhaving Van elongated `substantially rectangular slot formed thereiny.adjacent .its other end, a key disposed within vsaid passage, said keyhaving `a substantially rectangular end 'adapted to be .received Withinsaid slot, and thetother tend of said key having .an enlarged head.

References Cited in the fiile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS735,134 McLean Aug. 4, 1903 1,352,354- Church Sept. 7, 1920 1,903,514Merriman et al Apr. 11, 1933 1,970,721 Walton Aug. 21, 1934 2,578,686FishV DEC. 1 8, 1951 2,654,281 Rasmussen Oct. 6, 1953 2,680,983 MillerJune 15, 1954 2,703,030 Marvin Mar. 1, 1955

